David Henshaw

David Henshaw (2 April 1791-11 November 1852) was US Secretary of the Navy from 24 July 1843 to 18 February 1844, succeeding Abel P. Upshur and preceding Thomas Walker Gilmer.

Biography
David Henshaw was born in Leicester, Massachusetts in 1791, and he was trained as a druggist and later expanded his businesses into banking, transportation, and politics. He was elected to the State Senate in 1826, served as Collector of the Post of Boston from the 1820s to 1838, served as leader of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, and served as President John Tyler's Secretary of the Navy from 1843 to 1844. His recess appointment as Secretary of the Navy was never confirmed by the US Congress, however, and he was forced to step down when Thomas Walker Gilmer was confirmed in 1844. He died in 1852.